Survey – are SAPD cops really worse than local gangbangers?

Protesters marched on McFadden Street last night in opposition to the SAPD and the OCDA’s gang injunction in the Townsend Street neighborhood.

The SAPD did themselves no favors when they recently raided and tried to destroy an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary.  The cops on that raid helped themselves to marijuana edibles and said awful things about an amputee – not realizing that they were being videotaped.

The bad cops and the Santa Ana Police Officer’s Association filed a lawsuit last week in Orange County Superior seeking to prevent Santa Ana police internal affairs investigators from using a hidden camera video from a May 26 raid at Sky High Collective to determine if department policies were violated, according to the O.C. Register.

While the behavior of some SAPD cops is beyond deplorable the reality is that our city has been under siege by local gangbangers for some time and the violence has escalated over the past year.  Many residents say that the worst thing about living in Santa Ana is the threat posed by our violent street gangs.

The SAPD’s problems have escalated in part because the City Council hired a police chief, Carlos Rojas, who had no executive experience, to head up one of California’s largest police departments.  And the SAPD continues to be undermanned.

What say you?  Are Santa Ana’s cops really worse than our local gangs?

[cardoza_wp_poll id=21]

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • On one side i can say i never been harrased by the gangbangers but i have been harrased on multiple occasions by the police , the gang unit in particular so i would say cops are worse in my point of view but im also sure not all cops are bad either

    • OK, I´ve been unnecessarily harassed by the Santa Ana police. But, I never felt threatened, or that I wouldn´t walk away in one piece. On the other hand, when I was a teacher at Monte Vista School, I would go visit my students´ parents on Townsend Street, and without fail, I would be challenged, in the daytime, by groups of young gentlemen who wanted to know about my origins and background, i.e. “Where you from? ¿De dónde eres, ese?” And, it was only when current or former students came running up to me screaming with delight, “Mr. Larson! Mr. Larson!” that the young gentlemen would slink away and leave me in peace. Yes, if the cops break the law, they should be punished, just like anyone else, but when we give up on showing respect to the cops, we´re done for.

      • I've never encountered such situations even though I'm full of tattos on my arms , and the area i live on has been the scene of a lot of shootings , i believe it all has to do with the way you handle yourself if you show them respect they will respect you back , the sapd gang unit however threw me on the ground searched my car without consent and then drove away laughing . I dont respect them at all . However other officers I've dealt with for traffic violations have showed me nothing but respect.

  • Nothing wrong with letting Cops get away with misconduct, if they have to risk their lives in the Baddest streets in Orange County. I'm sure they get reprimanded for getting caught srewing off. If internal affairs cuts them a break this time, then all they need to do is win back the respect of the community, in these hard times of Gun violence everywhere..We all have to prey that the Lord Jesus has mercy on us all..Right

  • I'm going to put it to u like this gangs go against each other not us. Like cops kill who ever gets infront off them.

    • Not always. Innocent people often get caught in the crossfire when the gangbangers shoot at each other.

      There are some bad cops but most of them are trying to keep the peace.

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